It’s another week full of free music events, as well as exciting gigs from both visiting and resident artists. Note that the Aquatennial celebration goes from Wednesday to Saturday, though, as far as I can tell, there are no music events. So… let’s get to it. Music lifts the Spirit.

John Pizzarelli @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($35, $45), 9pm ($25, $35) His stories are as charming as his guitar playing is “madly creative,” as the LA Times called it. Pizzarelli is renowned around the world for his jazz guitartistly, and makes good use of the Great American Songbook, as well as Paul McCartney’s compositions. His latest project celebrates Sinatra’s album with Jobim.

For more listings, KBEM provides a calendar of jazz and roots music. For further commentary on Twin Cities jazz, check out the blogs, Jazz Police and Bebopified.

Blues, Roots, Other…

Wednesday, July 18

Pigs Lite on The House Party (KFAI, 90.3FM), and @ The 331 Club, Minneapolis. 5pm (KFAI), 7pm (331 Club – Tip Jar) Randy Webb and Dave Rabb of the Front Porch Swinging Liquor Pigs are joined by percussionist Tony Paul on Friday nights at Palmer’s. They make a rare, mid-week appearance tonight.

Jenny & the Mexicats @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($32, $37, $42) Cumbias, salsas, and other Mexican-oriented music (along with some songs in English) delivered with swing by a quartet led by a Spanish-speaking Brit who plays trumpet as well as sings. All delivered with a bit of cheekiness.

Wednesday, Thursday, July 18, 19

Cantus Summer Chamber Series @ American Swedish Institute, Wed, July 18, 7pm; Thursday, July19 @ The Museum of Russian Art, 7pm ($20 Adults, $10 Children for both performances) The eight-man ensemble presents Songs My Mother Taught Me: folk songs that are an integral part of the American experience and our cultural heritage.

Mini Music Fest @ The Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul. 6pm – 10 pm ($20, SCM & MPR Members, $25 Non-Members) Fourteen, count ‘em, 14 bands, performing on 5 stages, including such acts as Ben Cook-Feitz, James Rene of School for Girls, Jaedyn James & the Hunger, Toussaint Morrison, and Nooky Jones. They are part of this Social Science event, as it’s called. You get music that ranges from rock to hip-hop, folk, and funk, while being surrounded by dinosaurs and other exhibits. FMI go here.

Thursday July19 – Sunday July 22

Marc Norberg’s book, Black & White Blues.

Black & White Blues by Marc Norberg @ Show Gallery Lowertown, 364 N. Sibley Street, Saint Paul. (Free) The Minnesota Museum of Art is presenting this show in conjunction with the Lowertown Blues and Funk Fest, featuring thirty of photographer Marc Norberg’s marvelous portraits of blues artists who played in the Twin Cities (mostly at Wilebski’s) between 1982 and 1995. There’s an opening reception on Thursday from 6-9pm, with a cash bar and live music by Erik Christenson at 7pm.

Graham Parker, Belfast Cowboys @ Brit’s Pub, Minneapolis. 6pm (No Cover) It’s Fredstock at Brits, celebrating 90 year old Sir Freddie Manton, and Brits is bringing back British rock Legend Graham Parker for a solo show at 6, though he may be joined for a couple of songs by members of the Belfast Cowboys, who take the stage at 8pm. Arrive at 3pm, and you can catch the Actors Theater doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). It all takes place at the Pub’s rooftop garden.

Kashimana @ The Landmark Center, Saint Paul. Noon – 1pm (Free) Singer/songwriter Kashimana was born in Nigeria and moved to Kenya with her family when she was 8, where she lived until coming to the Twin Cities to go to college. She has a warm presence and sings catchy, simple songs in a soulful voice

For a more comprehensive listing of blues (and some roots) events, see the MN Blues Society calendar. For a comprehensive listing of Cajun and Zydeco events, see the Krewe de Walleye calendar.